Box Score


NEWARK, N.J. -- For the second time this season, senior G Chris Flores connected on a layup in the last second of the game to cap an amazing Highlanders' comeback. On Tuesday, a layup off an inbounds pass capped a 12-point comeback with under three minutes remaining in NJIT's 69-67 thriller over Army.

Flores previously hit a game-winning layup with :00.3 seconds remaining against New Hampshire on Nov. 21 in an affair in which the Highlanders (5-4) won by the identical 69-67 score.

This contest also marked the third straight meeting in the past three years with the Black Knights (4-5) that went down to the buzzer. Last season, the Highlanders held on for a 54-53 victory at West Point after Josh Herbeck narrowly missed on a layup in traffic as time expired. During the 2010-11 season, Army's Jeremy Hence drained a half-court heave at the buzzer for a dramatic 63-60 win at Fleisher Athletic Center.

Flores finished with a game-high 17 points – 14 of which came in the second half. The Great West Conference's leading scorer also had a contest-best five steals and a game-high tying seven rebounds. His winning bucket came on an assist from freshman G Nigel Sydnor, who found Flores cutting down the lane on a baseline inbounds play.

Senior F Ryan Woods was the NJIT's only other double-digit scorer, netting 16 points to compliment his share of the night's lead with seven rebounds.

But Woods' most significant contribution took place in the final 16 seconds. With the Highlanders down by three, the co-captain drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 67-67. On the ensuing Army possession, the Black Knights broke pressure with a two-on-one break to take the lead. But Woods stood his ground on a drive down the lane by senior Ella Ellis and drew an offensive foul.

After trailing for 22 consecutive minutes, the Highlanders had tied the game and now had an opportunity for their first lead since the 6:22 mark of the first half. And Flores -- also a co-captain -- made good.

Sophomore F Daquan Holiday was also as significant a factor as any in the comeback effort. Inserted for the first time in the game with 14:01 remaining and the Highlanders trailing, 38-25, the 6-7 big man keyed a full-court press that led to 23 turnovers – the highest total forced by NJIT since creating 25 turnovers in a 72-57 win over North Dakota on Feb. 11, 2012.

The former William Allen (Pa.) High School standout finished with seven points, five rebounds and two steals in just 11 minutes of play.

For the game, NJIT outscored Army by a staggering 27-9 margin in points off of turnovers.

For most of the game, the Black Knights seemingly had an answer for every attempt at a run by the Highlanders. In fact, after NJIT trimmed its deficit to 54-49 with 6:34 left to play, Army regrouped to go back up by 12 points over the next 3:28. It was a pair of free throws by freshman G Matt Gramling that appeared to put the Black Knights comfortably up, 63-51, with just 3:06 remaining.

Perhaps a harbinger, it was a layup by Flores with 2:52 to go that sparked a 6-0 spurt en route to the Highlanders' game-ending 18-4 run.

Gramling could have potentially sealed a win for Army, but he misfired on a pair of free throws with :32 remaining that kept it a one-possession game at 67-64.

Ellis led Army with 16 points. However, the Highlanders held the Patriot League's second-leading scorer to just six field-goal attempts. Junior C Andrew Stire (13 points) and freshman G Kyle Wilson (10 points) were the Black Knights other two double-figure scorers.

The Highlanders prevailed despite being outshot (44.2 percent to 32.8) and out-rebounded (48-25) while committing 28 fouls.

At 5-4, NJIT is off to the best start in its Division I era (since 2006-07). Previously, the fastest the Highlanders ever achieved five wins occurred when they improved to 5-6 in Game 11 on Dec. 28, 2011. In fact, in three of these first six years, they never reached the five-win plateau.

The Highlanders have also emerged victorious now in seven consecutive home victories dating back to last season (starting after a 72-70 OT loss to CSU Bakersfield on 2/22/12).

NJIT is back in action at home against MEAC opponent North Carolina A&T (3-6) on Thursday. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at Fleisher Athletic Center.

Write-up courtesy of Matt Provence